Relaxed rules a boost to Pride

ROWAN SPARKES

NORTHERN Pride coach Ty Williams says the Queensland Government’s decision to greatly relax restrictions on community sport was just the kind of shot in the arm the club needed.

Ever since Queensland Rugby League made the decision to cancel its four statewide competitions due to COVID-19 in March, the club has been embroiled in uncertainty, with no clear idea of when they would take the field next.

Players were hoping to get some game time with local clubs in the Cairns District Rugby League when the season eventually kicked off, until that was also cancelled in June.

Williams has always maintained that the club’s goal was to play rugby league “in some capacity” before the end of the year, but it ultimately depended on COVID-19 restrictions, which up until yesterday were the biggest roadblock for rugby league’s return.

While this week’s mass easing of restrictions won’t see the return of the Intrust Super Cup, Williams said the prospect of playing rugby league again in 2020 was a lot brighter, with contact sports and unlimited spectators given the green light to make a comeback from noon this Friday.

“We’ll be endeavouring to find a way for our boys to play some football,” he said.

“It’s come a lot quicker than what everyone thought, but it is an encouraging sign.

“We’ll prep ourselves accordingly and make sure we put plans in place about how we can advocate some sort of football.”

Since the cancellation of the 2020 CDRL season last month, local clubs including Brothers, Tully and Ivanhoes have kicked around ideas about how they could get back on the field when restrictions eased.

The Northern Pride had also expressed interest in participating in such games.

Williams said he expected the idea to gain traction following the State Government’s announcement on Tuesday.

“It’s good to see that all avenues are open and the discussion is still there.”

The club’s Intrust Super Cup squad took part in their third post-COVID training session on Tuesday evening, where they were joined by a handful of Hastings Deering Colts players.

He said while the government had given the all-clear for community sport clubs to return to contact training from this Friday, the club would resist diving straight back into it.

“We’ve gone a bit above and beyond with protocols and restrictions, which we’ll still stick to,” he said.

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